Why do Jehovah's Witnesses refuse blood transfusions?

[Matthew_Holford]

Do they only refuse whole blood (rarely transfused anyway), or do they refuse all blood products? Is the biblical verse upon which they rely only found in their own version of the bible, or can the verse be found in bible translations approved by the Latin Catholic Church?

 

[flyonthewall]

I thought it had something to do with eating or consuming blood
Genesis 9:4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.

I could be wrong though.

 

[catsrus]

These are the verses they use to defend their position:

Ge 9:4,16
Le 7:26,27 &17:14
Acts 15:28,29 &21:25

At least those verses were used to defend their position 20 years ago. Because their “theology” is constantly changing, I don’t know if they even still refuse blood at all.

 

[Nicea325]

Do they only refuse whole blood (rarely transfused anyway), or do they refuse all blood products? Is the biblical verse upon which they rely only found in their own version of the bible, or can the verse be found in bible translations approved by the Latin Catholic Church?

On top of that they refuse to salute the American Flag due to the belief ONLY God is to be honored? That I cannot handle due to the fact I am a veteran of the Armed Forces and it is those colors which allows them to believe all that they want.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Do they only refuse whole blood (rarely transfused anyway), or do they refuse all blood products? Is the biblical verse upon which they rely only found in their own version of the bible, or can the verse be found in bible translations approved by the Latin Catholic Church?

The “why” is simply because they need some kind of ‘twist’ to make themselves stand out. It’s a selling-point to make themselves unique.

Theologically, there’s nothing attached or hanging on this issue (except the Watchtower credibility).

The Biblical texts are really nonsense, since transfusions are a modern thing, and eating blood is not an equivalent. The prohibiting of eating of blood was God’s way of singling out the importance of life, and within the context of the Mosaic Law was tied to the Levitical Sacrifice system. In the New Covenant, all the Mosaic Laws against such things as Sacrifices and Food restrictions (which were temporary and) are now abolished.

Interestingly, the JWs have an elaborate scheme by which they allow only certain parts of blood to be transfused…which is ironic since it’s almost like they’re finding a back door for something they believe God prohibits. It would be like saying God forbids the drinking of alcoholic beverages, but that it’s ok to inject only certain parts of that alcohol into your bloodstream.

Ultimately, bringing up the issue is a lost cause and gets nobody anywhere. While there isn’t a good case at all for accepting the doctrine, it’s one of those things that the JW will stand firm on because their Governing Body said so.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

These are the verses they use to defend their position:

Ge 9:4,16
Le 7:26,27 &17:14
Acts 15:28,29 &21:25

At least those verses were used to defend their position 20 years ago. Because their “theology” is constantly changing, I don’t know if they even still refuse blood at all.

I can assure you that they still refuse blood. In fact I can tell you about a person that I know. This person is a Jehovah’s Witness and was diagnosed with kidney cancer and as part of the treatment programme was advised to receive blood but refused as it was contrary to this person’s faith. The same person holds a party on their birthday and buys and distributes Christmas cards and presents despite the fact that Jehovah’s Witnesses are not supposed to celebrate these events. I believe that sometimes they will act according to their faith if their elders are likely to find out and to do those things contrary to their faith if they’re not going to get caught out.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Thanks for replies I’m grateful. Can I just check because no one has specifically said are the verses found in Catholic approved bibles or only in the JW’s own translation. I’ve inferred they are in Catholic approved ones.

 

[vera_dicere]

From my understanding gained from talkign to JWs its something to do with the life/soul being in the blood and taking someone else’s blood sort of “dilutes” their own soul. How true that is, I don’t know, but its what I was told.

And the ones I’ve met in my job still refuse transfusions. Though I did meet a woman who refused it while her husband was standing there, but as soon as he was gone she begged us for it. She really needed it too, her Hb was like 54, that is rather unhealthy. So we snuck it through over night when her family and JW friends weren’t around. She even made us document elsewhere in a seperate set of notes so if her husband or her ever requested her notes for whatever purpose, it wouldn’t be there. Even had to change her luer for her because it was looking a bit post transfusion manky.

She said her husband’s own brother had had a blood transfusion and had basically been shunned by the whole family and JW church they attended and she didn’t want that fate, and with several small kids she didn’t want to die.

 

[vera_dicere]

The Biblical texts are really nonsense, since transfusions are a modern thing, and eating blood is not an equivalent. The prohibiting of eating of blood was God’s way of singling out the importance of life, and within the context of the Mosaic Law was tied to the Levitical Sacrifice system. In the New Covenant, all the Mosaic Laws against such things as Sacrifices and Food restrictions (which were temporary and) are now abolished.

So do JW’s then denounce Christ or at least His teachings? Seeing as He said its not what goes into your body that befouls it?

 

[Matthew_Holford]

From my understanding gained from talkign to JWs its something to do with the life/soul being in the blood and taking someone else’s blood sort of “dilutes” their own soul. How true that is, I don’t know, but its what I was told.

And the ones I’ve met in my job still refuse transfusions. Though I did meet a woman who refused it while her husband was standing there, but as soon as he was gone she begged us for it. She really needed it too, her Hb was like 54, that is rather unhealthy. So we snuck it through over night when her family and JW friends weren’t around. She even made us document elsewhere in a seperate set of notes so if her husband or her ever requested her notes for whatever purpose, it wouldn’t be there. Even had to change her luer for her because it was looking a bit post transfusion manky.

She said her husband’s own brother had had a blood transfusion and had basically been shunned by the whole family and JW church they attended and she didn’t want that fate, and with several small kids she didn’t want to die.

Side-tracking from the thread here. What unit do you measure Hb in? I know someone with spherocytosis who only gets transfused when Hb is below 8 g/dL. Normal for a man is 12-18 g/dL. How could her husband request her notes, surely a patient’s medical notes are completely confidential and no one’s relatives not even one’s spouse should have access to them.

 

[vera_dicere]

Side-tracking from the thread here. What unit do you measure Hb in? I know someone with spherocytosis who only gets transfused when Hb is below 8 g/dL. Normal for a man is 12-18 g/dL. How could her husband request her notes, surely a patient’s medical notes are completely confidential and no one’s relatives not even one’s spouse should have access to them.

I’ve obviously taken for granted how we measure Hb down here, but we usually like it about 100 - 120 g/L generally, and won’t consider transfusion unless it dips below 80 approx. Of course, depends on the patient. Well, where I work at least.

As for notes, NOK can request notes if they have power of attorny, if there’s a suspision of malpractice, or if the patient has died. The patient can also request notes, and if the husband asked to see them over her shoulder and she said no, he might get suspisious.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I’ve obviously taken for granted how we measure Hb down here, but we usually like it about 100 - 120 g/L generally, and won’t consider transfusion unless it dips below 80 approx. Of course, depends on the patient. Well, where I work at least.

As for notes, NOK can request notes if they have power of attorny, if there’s a suspision of malpractice, or if the patient has died. The patient can also request notes, and if the husband asked to see them over her shoulder and she said no, he might get suspisious.

I understand now. So whatever value you gave I’d divide by ten. So when you said Hb was 54, we’d have said 5.4, which is, as you said, pretty low.

I was thinking mainly NOK would primarily only be able to access notes post-mortem so too late for them to do anything about her having blood transfusion. Didn’t think about power of attorney. Would be sensible anyway not to ask to see own notes if hubby around!

 

[catsrus]

Can I just check because no one has specifically said are the verses found in Catholic approved bibles or only in the JW’s own translation.

Hi Matthew,
I took those verses directly from a new world translation (a jw Bible) that I still have from my 18 months of “studying” with them many years ago.
I keep it because it helps me when they show up at my door.

 

[catsrus]

So do JW’s then denounce Christ or at least His teachings?

No, they revere both Christ (but only as a creation) and what He taught.
Because they consider Jesus as “only” a creation, all their devotion is to God. (Jehovah)

 

[Catholic_Dude]

So do JW’s then denounce Christ or at least His teachings? Seeing as He said its not what goes into your body that befouls it?

They claim this blood issue was an exception to the rule. Biblically and logically, that doesn’t really fit, but oh well.